DU Supports Veterans ‘To and Through’
A Top 100 college for veterans, DU surrounds student vets and military-affiliated students with the people, programs, and resources to help them thrive—from first inquiry to graduation and beyond.
The has long been home to a vibrant community of veterans and military-affiliated students—now more than 700 strong, including GI Bill users, active-duty service members, reservists, and dependents. That number has nearly tripled in the past decade, reflecting DU’s deepening commitment to support students who have served.
And that dedication continues to earn national recognition: In the 2025U.S. News & World Reportcollege rankings, DU placed No. 78 in the country on the list of Best Colleges for Veterans—its highest ranking ever. It also earned a spot on U.S. Veterans Magazine's list of .
When Damon Vine, director of veterans services, arrived at DU in 2015, the University served about 250 GI Bill users; today, there are 500. He credits the growth to DU’s strengthened commitment to the Yellow Ribbon program, which covers the full cost of tuition for all qualified GI Bill users, as well as the appeal of earning a degree from an academically strong R1 institution—an especially powerful draw for first-generation students.
Small class sizes also make a difference. Compared to many peer institutions, DU offers a more personal and individualized academic experience, something student veterans often cite as a key factor in their decision to enroll.
What keeps veterans here, Vine says, is not just the academics but the environment. “When students research schools, we’re the one that offers the programs they want and the culture they’re looking for,” he says. “And the services we offer help them navigate the complexities of higher ed.”
Steady support, on their terms
The , which is part of Student Affairs and located on the third floor of the Community Commons, supports students from the moment they express interest in DU through graduation—and even beyond. Vine describes it as a “to and through” approach: early outreach, tailored orientation support, ongoing opportunities for connection and community building, help navigating college life, and alumni engagement.
Each year, the office runs a VA work-study program, employing five to eight students who are veterans or dependents. These students serve as a first line of support for prospective and current students, answering questions about GI Bill processes and helping peers determine the most effective way to use their benefits. Veterans and military-affiliated students can access resources on everything from scholarships and career readiness to housing and financial assistance.
The goal, Vine says, is steady guidance without pressure. “If there are veterans I never see in our center, that's OK. They don't have to come here. Some veterans just want space to sort of reestablish or refine their civilian self. If they have a question, they can come ask the question and then go on about their business. If they know we're here, that's all I really need for them to know.”
Where veterans can ‘just be’
Transitioning to college after military service can be both exciting and disorienting. The average student vet is 28-30 years old—and often balancing academic demands with family life, jobs, or continued reserve service.
“When you're in class with 18- to 22-year-olds who haven’t served in the military, there’s obviously a bit of a gap in life experiences,” Vine says. So, the Veterans and Military Resources Center is designed as a welcoming space to unplug, study, connect, or “just be your veteran self.”
At the same time, he encourages veterans to bring friends into the space to study or just hang out—making their own transition easier and introducing non-veteran peers to military culture in a comfortable environment.
Programs that build community and confidence
DU offers designed to support, connect, and empower student veterans throughout their academic journey.
- The Veterans’ Peer-to-Peer Networking Program matches incoming veterans with alumni mentors based on academic interests, hobbies, and personal goals.
- ճ (SVA) helps students transition to college life through service, leadership opportunities, social and professional networking, and educational programming. SVA also manages the Student Emergency Relief for Veterans (SERV) Fund, established by members of SVA to assist their veteran peers in need.
- SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society is for highly motivated students who want access to professional networks, volunteering and leadership opportunities, scholarships, and SALUTE’s national programs.
- , a national co-ed veterans and military fraternity, was established at DU two years ago. The first chapter of its kind in Colorado, Omega Delta Sigma focuses on community engagement, often partnering with local organizations on service projects, such as building wheelchair ramps for veterans.
Community partnerships with real impact
DU is also proud to partner with two programs that serve not only DU veterans and their families but also those in the larger community—programs that Vine says are “really special to DU’s identity when it comes to veterans.”
- ճ (RMVAP), founded by DU Law professor Ann Vessels and currently led by alum and Army veteran Brad Cummings, which works with the Sturm College of Law to provide a wide range of legal services to vets. Its offerings include everything from VA disability compensation appeals and discharge upgrades to family law assistance and help with housing and employment issues.
- ճ, part of DU’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology, serves as both an academic training clinic and a community behavioral health center. Led by military psychology professor Katie Barrs and located in the Ammi Hyde Building, the center offers evidence-based counseling and psychological assessments for all veterans and active-duty personnel and their families, regardless of status or era.
Signature events that celebrate and honor service
Throughout the year, the Office of Veterans and Military Resources hosts events that honor service and bring the DU community together.
Military Appreciation Night with DU Hockey—launched nine years ago—has become a cherished tradition. Veterans, alumni, and families gather for a pre-game dinner and guest speaker, and a veteran alum or representative drops the ceremonial puck. This year, for his contributions to the SERV Fund, along with, a second-year player who completed his ROTC commitment ceremony on the ice.
Other annual events include:
- Veterans Honor Cords Ceremony for graduating students, where they receive red and blue cords to wear at commencement
- A spring visit from General George Casey, a DU alum, former Army Chief of Staff, and current trustee
- The Memorial Day Murph, a global fitness challenge event honoring Navy SEAL Michael P. Murphy
- , now in its third year, a celebratory evening of remembrance, connection, and community
Looking ahead
Vine is continually seeking new ways to support incoming students. “We're exploring different avenues of providing pre-orientation services—how can we better assist veterans coming to us directly from the military?” he says. “We want to make sure they've already been to campus, they've met me and my staff, and we've walked them through some things … so it’s not like drinking water through a fire hose.”
DU’s consistent presence in the top 100 national rankings, he adds, is matched by something harder to measure but just as meaningful.
“There's barely a week that goes by that a professor or staff member isn't reaching out, saying, ‘We have this veteran who needs help, how can we help?’ That doesn’t get calculated in the rankings, but it’s an important part of who we are at DU. We are constantly helping people.”
Learn more about what makes DU a U.S. News and World Report Top 100 school for veterans at.
